Latest news with #Elis-Thomas
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather for Lord Elis-Thomas funeral
The funeral of the former Plaid Cymru leader and the Senedd's first presiding officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, is taking place. Hundreds of mourners are attending the service at Cardiff's Llandaff Cathedral, including senior politicians past and present. Lord Elis-Thomas passed away on 7 February aged 78 following a short illness. The former culture minister represented Dwyfor Meirionnydd in Cardiff Bay for 22 years, having previously spent 18 years as an MP. Lord Elis-Thomas: From maverick to political establishment Former Plaid Cymru leader has died, aged 78 Paying tribute, Ieuan Wyn Jones, who was deputy first minister from 2007 to 2011, said he would not have entered politics without the support he received from Lord Elis-Thomas. Mr Jones, who led Plaid Cymru from 2000 to 2012, said it was "difficult to encapsulate everything that he did in a short space of time". But he thinks his work as the presiding officer of the Senedd and turning it from a "very fragile flower" into a "proper parliament" will be his lasting legacy. He added: "I think that what you've got to remember is that Dafydd Elis-Thomas was a unique character and he wanted to see Wales in the way that he always thought best." Although Mr Jones said "we all regretted the fact that he left the party", he thinks Lord Elis-Thomas "wanted to serve Wales in different ways and he managed to do that". First Minister Eluned Morgan will give a reading at the service while opera singer Gwyn Hughes Jones will also perform. The eulogy will be delivered by Lord Elis-Thomas' friend and biographer Aled Eirug. Following the service, the funeral cortege will pass the Senedd in Cardiff Bay where he served as presiding officer - the Llywydd - for the first 12 years of devolution. At the time of his death, the current Llywydd Elin Jones described Lord Elis-Thomas as the Senedd's "founding father". "He became the keeper of the Welsh constitution but was always prepared to think outside the box," she said. Lord Elis-Thomas was one of only three Welsh politicians to have served in the House of Commons, the House of Lords and in Cardiff Bay. He was a Plaid Cymru MP between 1974 and 1992 - serving as the party's leader between 1984 and 1991. He was later part of the Plaid Cymru group in Cardiff Bay but left the party in 2016 to sit as an independent member. The following year he joined Carwyn Jones' Labour government as the minister for culture, sport and tourism. Lord Elis-Thomas stood down from the Senedd in 2021.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lord Elis-Thomas: Cathedral funeral for ex-Senedd presiding officer
The funeral of the former Plaid Cymru leader and the Senedd's first Presiding Officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, will take place on of mourners are expected to attend the service at Cardiff's Llandaff Cathedral, including senior politicians past and Elis-Thomas passed away on 7 February aged 78 following a short illness. The former culture minister represented Dwyfor Meirionnydd in Cardiff Bay for 22 years, having previously spent 18 years as an MP. First Minister Eluned Morgan will give a reading at the service whilst opera singer Gwyn Hughes Jones will also eulogy will be delivered by Lord Elis-Thomas' friend and biographer Aled the service, the funeral cortege will pass the Senedd in Cardiff Bay where he served as Presiding Officer - the Llywydd - for the first 12 years of the time of his death, the current Llywydd Elin Jones described Lord Elis-Thomas as the Senedd's "founding father"."He became the keeper of the Welsh constitution but was always prepared to think outside the box," she Elis-Thomas was one of only three Welsh politicians to have served in the House of Commons, the House of Lords and in Cardiff was a Plaid Cymru MP between 1974 and 1992 - serving as the party's leader between 1984 and was later part of the Plaid Cymru group in Cardiff Bay but left the party in 2016 to sit as an independent following year he joined Carwyn Jones' Labour government as the minister for culture, sport and Elis-Thomas stood down from the Senedd in 2021.
The Guardian
13-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Lord Elis-Thomas obituary
The most important contribution to Welsh nationalism made by Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Lord Elis-Thomas, who has died aged 78, was his understanding of the need to work within the existing institutions of government in order to secure political progress towards the cause that was his lifetime's ambition. The former leader of Plaid Cymru had been a Westminster MP and a member of the House of Lords before becoming in 1999 the first presiding officer of the Welsh assembly. In this post during the 12 years of the first three terms after devolution, he used his own sensitive political antennae to powerful effect, guiding its members towards the development of an effective national parliament, which is today the Senedd Cymru. He was a mercurial character who was never afraid to speak his mind or to test the boundaries of what might be politically acceptable. While he could often cause controversy, his intellectual agility kept him ahead of the game and his tactics ensured that the progress of the nationalist cause was always at the forefront of public debate. He became one of the most influential Welsh politicians of his generation, who made an outstanding impact on the civic life of Wales. His unwavering love of his country and its culture was never in question, but he invited criticism for the risks he took to advance his own career. This was notably the case when he stood down as the Plaid Cymru MP for Merionnydd Nant Conwy in 1992 and accepted a seat in the House of Lords. This was against the policy of the party he himself had been leading since 1984 until just the previous year, bringing suggestions that he enjoyed the perks of being a peer and hanging out with aristocrats. He had a penchant for sharp dressing, including Armani suits, yet paid little regard to such criticism. Towards the end of his career, in 2016, he showed the same streak of defiance when he left Plaid Cymru, claiming that it was failing to work constructively with Labour in the interests of a stable Welsh government. He subsequently accepted a job as minister in the Labour-led governments of Carwyn Jones and Mark Drakeford. He sat then as an Independent in the national assembly in Cardiff (which became the Senedd in 2020), successfully resisted demands for a byelection in his constituency, and was deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism from 2018 until he stood down in the Welsh election of 2021. His underlying belief was in the need for proper governance for Wales, a target he was prepared to put above what he described as 'dreamy romantic' notions of independence while these were unlikely to be achieved. Throughout his life, he cast about widely for political inspiration: describing himself as a Marxist in his early political years; pursuing 'communitarian socialism' for a period and finding fellow cause with the (Tony) Bennite left in the Labour party in the 1980s, while also establishing links with Scottish and Irish nationalists. He learned, however, to become a pragmatist, using differing tactics for different circumstances and thus simultaneously advanced his own career and that of the many political and cultural causes he espoused. This led him also to become an enthusiastic European. He voted against continuing membership of the then EEC in the 1975 referendum but stood for the North Wales seat in the 1989 elections to the European parliament, coming a respectable third with 25% of the vote. He told an ITV1 Wales programme (Tin Gods: Will the Real Dafydd Elis-Thomas Stand Up?) in 2003: 'I have dedicated my life to undermining the British state because I believe the UK has to be transformed into a proper federation which is a part of Europe.' Dafydd Elis Thomas (who changed his name by deed poll to Elis-Thomas on joining the Lords) was born in Carmarthen, the son of a Presbyterian minister, William Ellis Thomas, and his wife, Eirlys (nee James). He was raised in Llandysul, Ceredigion, and then Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley and educated at Llanrwst primary school, Ysgol Dyffryn, Conwy. The family was Welsh-speaking with a mixed political background of Plaid, Independent Labour and the Liberal parties, and young Dafydd joined CND in 1965, the Labour party in 1966 and Plaid in 1967. He went to Bangor University to read Welsh, and after a short spell as a journalist took a post as a research worker with the Board of Celtic Studies in 1970. By this time he had already embarked on his political career, standing unsuccessfully as the Plaid Cymru candidate for Conwy in the general election of that year. In 1971 he became a tutor in Welsh studies at Coleg Harlech and also at the Open University, and in 1974 he became a lecturer in the English department at Bangor. He had helped with Plaid Cymru's policy programme before he was selected as candidate for Merioneth and his election for that seat to Westminster in February 1974, as the youngest MP in the Commons, was one of the sensations of the general election in Wales. He remained the MP there until 1983, when the seat was redesignated as Merionnydd Nant Conwy. He made a big impact in parliament as an assiduous MP, one of the most prolific in tabling parliamentary questions and a man who secured results for his constituents. He harried the Labour government of those years and as a result, among other successes, won economic help for Wales and the Welsh language, compensation for slate quarry workers and salvation for the Cambrian coastal railway. His campaigns were assisted by the government's increasingly perilous majority and its need for Plaid support in the voting lobbies. On joining the Lords, he took a step back from his previous high profile in national politics and chaired the Welsh Language Board from 1993 to 1999. With the creation of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 he became the presiding officer, above the political fray, but returned to playing a full part as the Plaid member for Dwyfor Merionnydd from 2007 until his formal break with the party in 2016. He did seek to rejoin in 2023 – as often, personal relationships with other leading party members were a factor – but this failed to materialise. As an AM (assembly member) he chaired the environment and sustainability committee (2011-14); he was a member of the enterprise and business committee (2012-13, 2014–16) and the constitutional and legislative affairs committee (2015, 2016-2021). He was made a member of the Privy Council in 2004. Elis-Thomas was an enthusiastic member of the Arts Council for Wales, a governor of the British Film Institute and involved with the Wales Film Council. He was a freelance journalist and broadcaster, chancellor of Bangor University (2001–17) and a member of the Church in Wales. In 2008 he received the white bardic robe at the National Eisteddfod in recognition of his 'brightness, his ability and penetration of his vision'. He published three books on issues of nationalism and liked running and hill-walking near his family's stone-built cottage in Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia. His first marriage, in 1970, to Elen Williams ended in divorce. After a nine-year relationship with the political activist Marjorie Thompson in the 1980s, in 1993 he married Mair Parry Jones, the head of the translation department in the assembly. He is survived by her and by the three sons, Rolant, Meilyr and Cal, from his first marriage. Dafydd Elis Elis-Thomas, Lord Elis-Thomas, politician, born 18 October 1946; died 7 February 2025
The Independent
11-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Tributes paid to Lord Elis-Thomas, first presiding officer of the Welsh Assembly
Tributes have been paid to Lord Elis-Thomas, the former Plaid Cymru leader and first presiding officer of the Welsh Assembly, who died last week. Politicians from across the political divide came together in the Senedd to remember Lord Elis-Thomas. Current presiding officer, the Llywydd Elin Jones, led a minute's silence in memory of Lord Elis-Thomas's life and work. Addressing Senedd members, Ms Jones said: 'He was a close friend to many here, a political comrade to many too, and an enigma to all. 'This Senedd today is what it is because to a very great extent of Dafydd Elis-Thomas and certainly all of us in this wonderful Senedd building and this wonderful Siambr are here because of David's vision and perseverance.' Lord Elis-Thomas, who led Plaid between 1984 and 1991, died last week following a short illness. He represented the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency from the founding of the National Assembly – now Senedd – between 1999 to 2021 and was the first presiding officer. He was also the MP for Meirionydd and then Meirionydd Nant Conwy between 1974 and 1992, before being appointed to the House of Lords in 1992. He left Plaid in 2016 and sat as an independent, serving in both Carwyn Jones' and Mark Drakeford's governments as minister for culture, sport and tourism, until he stood down from frontline politics in 2021. First Minister Eluned Morgan told Plenary that Lord Elis-Thomas's life mirrored that of a volume of modern Welsh history. 'It was difficult not to come across Dafydd in Welsh political life,' she said. 'Dafydd's story was interwoven into the fabric of our nation as the youngest Member of Parliament in the Commons in 1974 – he broke new ground from the very outset. 'But for those who knew him better, he was far more than a lengthy list of his achievements during his political career. 'He was an incredible character, a political giant with a mischievous side. 'He was a master at building political bridges, and he succeeded in doing that whilst appearing to be entirely effortless, always principled, always constructive. 'His political path was unexpected in many ways, from protesting against the investiture of Prince Charles in Caernarfon Castle to taking his place in the House of Lords.' Referring to his time as the then Welsh Assembly's first presiding officer, the First Minister said: 'He succeeded to be this institution's greatest defender, but also its greatest critic too. 'He battled tirelessly for the respect and resources needed by our young democracy, and he helped to establish this institution when it was a fragile flower. 'He encapsulated the best of the Welsh intellectual tradition – learned, but always humble; serious about its culture, but always ready with a sparky response in one language or the other. 'His example in terms of how to serve with passion and humour, with principle and friendliness, will continue to be an inspiration for all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. 'Dafydd, we will miss you greatly, and I will forever be grateful for the example you set, your kindness and your friendship.' Darren Millar, Conservative Senedd group leader, said: 'His journey from an anti-establishment nationalist to a statesman at the heart of Wales's institutions was nothing short of remarkable. 'He was a man of great intellect, wit and conviction, never afraid to challenge the status quo, yet always open to evolution of his own thoughts. 'He was a proud republican who once stood outside the system, but ultimately found himself within it, becoming a good friend of our now King Charles. 'He became an MP and peer of the realm and a respected and much loved figure across all political divides, from the Welsh-speaking heartlands of Gwynedd to the dining rooms of Buckingham Palace.' Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, told the Senedd: 'For me from my very earliest times he was there, a friend, a friend of the family, an influence, an inspiration in so many different ways, but for us all, from the very early days of our democracy, Dafydd was there to guide us. 'He set out his vision on all platforms, on the streets of his community, so young in entering the House of Commons, then to the second chamber, while simultaneously sinking deeper and deeper into the public life of our nation, our language education, and then to our own Senedd and the visionary presiding officer. 'Of course, we also remember Dafydd for his decades of service to Plaid Cymru, our leader for eight years, but part of our DNA for way over 50 years since he joined the party as a 16-year-old boy. 'He gave to the party service that was driven by passion for his nation, and he left a lasting legacy. 'Wales is indebted to Dafydd for shaping this chamber as it is today, but its debt is just as great to him for standing for what was just and what was right, and he shaped our nation in accordance with those values.'
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-leader wanted Lord Elis-Thomas back in Plaid
Former Plaid Cymru leader Lord Wigley says he would have liked his late colleague Lord Elis-Thomas to have returned to the party before his death. Lord Elis-Thomas, also a former Plaid leader and first the Llywydd - or speaker - of the Welsh Assembly, died aged 78 on Friday. His biographer, Aled Eurig, told BBC Politics Wales his old party behaved "shabbily" when Lord Elis-Thomas applied to rejoin in 2023. Plaid Cymru has been asked to comment. Lord Elis-Thomas left it in 2016 to sit as an independent and became a minister in Carwyn Jones' Labour Welsh government. But his bid to return to his original political home in August 2023 was abandoned. No Welsh budget deal yet, says Lib Dem leader Under fire GP company hands more surgeries back Children starting secondary school as vape addicts Lord Wigley said he would have "very much" liked to have seen his former colleague return, adding: "I regretted very much that he'd gone." Conditions, he said, were put on his rejoining and he was "not willing to go along with those". Mr Eurig said Lord Elis-Thomas was "keen" to return to the party under Rhun ap Iorwerth. "Instead of Plaid welcoming somebody who'd been of service to the party for 50 years and more, they created a tribunal, a disciplinary process which totally set to one side what Dafydd's record overall had been," he said. Dafydd was Lord Elis-Thomas' first name. He left Plaid Cymru over disagreements with then leader Leanne Wood. Lord Wigley said he last spoke to his former colleague more than a year ago, before the plan to rejoin was ditched. "The last conversation I had with him was the hopeful one that we would both be working together in the House of Lords on the Welsh agenda, and I was very sad that it hadn't happened," he said. You can catch up on Sunday's episode of BBC Politics Wales on iPlayer Lord Elis-Thomas: From maverick to political establishment Who was ex-Plaid Cymru leader Lord Elis-Thomas? New political system poses great danger - Wigley
